Flawed Church Faithful God

How can we reconcile the ideal church described by theology with the broken church that we see in the world? In this book Joseph Small argues that the church’s true identity is known somewhere in the tension between the two. Small revisits familiar ecclesiological concepts—people of God, the body of Christ, the communion of the Holy Spirit—but rather than focusing on theological abstractions or worldly cynicism, he carefully evaluates the church in its scriptural, historical, theological, and social contexts. Both sociologically honest and theologically discerning, Flawed Church, Faithful God offers a constructive Reformed yet ecumenical ecclesiology for the real world.

How can we reconcile the ideal church described by theology with the broken church that we see in the world? In this book Joseph Small argues that the church's true identity is known somewhere in the tension between the two. Small revisits familiar ecclesiological concepts-including the body of Christ, communion of saints, and people of God- but rather than focusing on theological abstractions or worldly cynicism, he evaluates the church in its scriptural, historical, theological, and social contexts. After stripping away the marketing and shallowness that characterizes much of contemporary church life, Small finds hope that the church's faith, nature, and mission can be lived out within God's calling. Both sociologically honest and theologically discerning, Flawed Church, Faithful God offers a constructive Reformed yet ecumenical ecclesiology for the real world. -- ‡c From back cover.

He left everything to follow his teacher and possessed a passion that would change the world. That’s one way to describe Peter. Here’s another: poor, uneducated, quick-tempered, and full of doubts and fears. Doesn’t even sound like the same man. And that’s the point of Simon Peter, a new book and six-week adult Bible study by Adam Hamilton. Peter was just an ordinary guy who heard and followed God’s extraordinary call. Discover how you, too, have special gifts, talents, and abilities that God can use to make a difference today. In addition to the Leader Guide and DVD components for adult studies, corresponding youth and children’s resources, sold separately, can be used to create a churchwide study. Chapters Include: The Call of the Fisherman Walking with Jesus in the Storm Bedrock or Stumbling Block? “I Will Not Deny You” From Cowardice to Courage The Rest of the Story

Apostle Paul, King David, and Gideon are all some of the Bible's greatest figures, and they all had one thing in common.......they were all flawed! That's right, these great men of God were all flawed. In fact, they all had several flaws. Why is this important? It's important because everyone- including yourself- shares this trait with these great figures. By examining their characters and how they were able to overcome their flaws in the light of God's glory, we can learn to better ourselves through our own flaws and begin building our faith stronger than ever!In “Flawed but Faithful- Finding Meaning in our Faults”, we examine how nobody is perfect and how this common trait can be used to spur personal growth. In this inspirational book, you will see how the Apostle Paul needed time to turn to God, how King David overcame his great sins to become a man of God, and how Gideon learned to trust his faith when he originally needed proof of God's amazing love. Many of us struggle with sins and our faith from time-to-time, and we are not alone. This important look at the Bible reminds us of that and encourages us to do better.God knows you aren't perfect, just as he knew these Bible figures were not perfect. He was patient with them and loved them regardless, and He will welcome you in the same way. Learn to embrace imperfection, trust your faith, undergo tremendous personal growth, and become a stronger Christian in this inspirational book. An in-depth look at some of the Bible's greatest stories about imperfection and how it relates to our modern lives complements the author's intelligent commentary to show you the path to a stronger faith.

In Ordained Ministry in Free Church Perspective Jan Martijn Abrahamse offers a methodologically innovative way to understand ordained ministry in terms of covenantal theology by returning to the life and thought of the English Separatist Robert Browne (c. 1550-1633).

PEACE AND FAITH: Christian Churches and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, composed of new essays, is the first collection to bring together writers from different faith communities to discuss the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement’s impact on one of the more fractious topics addressed by Christian denominations: the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In so doing, it builds on interfaith projects under way for decades. Theology and politics intermingle in debates taking place in local churches, Christian NGOs, and national church meetings that define official policy. The debates revive and reframe the most basic values of Christianity and the questions church members seek to resolve: How do Christians today hew to the principles Jesus articulated? How can justice be pursued in the context of competing national narratives and historical understandings? What bearing do or should centuries of Christian violence against Jews and Muslims have on contemporary theology and ethics? Is it ethical, or even possible, to set aside millennia of Christian anti-Semitism in judging Israel’s conduct? What Christian values should be honored in pursuing Jesus’s mission of reconciliation today? How may the pursuit of truth be corrupted by passionate social witness? Can advocacy cross the line into hatred? These are among the critical questions this collection poses and attempts to address.

In this book, John Piper explores the lives of 21 leaders from church history, offering a close look at their perseverance amidst opposition, weakness, and suffering--inspiring readers toward a life of Christ-exalting courage, passion, and joy.